CZT Family Tree: Yunji Lim

One day, my mom asked me to join her trip to the USA. So I went, completely unaware that I would be joining a full 3-day seminar in a room full of people from all over the world. It was her little experiment to see how a person perceives the Zentangle Method without prior knowledge. I think she needed living proof that the Zentangle Method actually works.

Was the experiment successful? I instantly fell in love with Zentangle on the very first day. On the 25-hour journey back to Korea, the 19-year-old me tangled the entire way.

How I use the Zentangle Method in my life now: It’s been over 9 years since I first met Zentangle. My depression was so severe that I barely moved or ate at the time. It took a long time to reach the healthy state I am in today, but Zentangle definitely helped me through that process. It became the glue that reconnected me to the world.

On a personal level, I tangle to relieve stress and stay grounded. Because there are no mistakes on a Zentangle tile, I actively practice that same mindset of gratitude and generosity in my everyday life. Not having to worry about being right or wrong also helped me find my voice again as an artist. Now, I truly love creating art just like I used to.

On a professional level, I use the Zentangle Method to build bridges. My mom runs a Zentangle-related business called Artizen Tangling Campus and the Korea Zentangle Association. I work alongside her to help more people discover Zentangle. My focus is on education and breaking down language barriers for Korean tanglers. I provide real-time interpretation for CZT seminars and translate educational materials and news from the global community. I recently had the pleasure of doing a collaborative workshop with Japanese CZT Izumi Sato when she visited Korea. I look forward to building more bridges, connecting people to one another, and connecting people to Zentangle.

My favorite story or memory about teaching the Zentangle Method is: No matter how young my students are, I never skip teaching the ‘philosophy’ part of Zentangle in my classes. One day in class, I did something unintentional and muttered, “Oops.” Then one of my students, a nine-year-old kid, said right away in a very calm voice, “No mistakes, teacher. It’s okay.” The whole class burst into laughter. It’s been a few years since then, but I still feel like I can hear his voice whenever I make a so-called “mistake.”

Through my experiences as a CZT, I have learned: That it is important to just DO IT! I am someone who always wants to do things perfectly, and that trait makes me procrastinate until I feel "ready" (which is never). Just like I became a CZT by a happy accident, I also started teaching before I felt completely ready. At first I was stressed but soon I realized that if I waited until I was 100% prepared, I would never start. Looking back, those spontaneous leaps of faith always opened up new opportunities for me to grow. As a naturally shy girl, the younger me would never have thought I could grow into someone who enjoys speaking into a microphone in front of a large crowd.

If I’m not tangling, you will find me…: My biggest passion aside from Zentangle right now is Dungeons and Dragons. It is funny because, just like it is hard to fully explain Zentangle without getting people to actually experience it, D&D and its benefits are also very hard to explain in words. You get to adventure in fantasy worlds, make friends, get creative while rolling dice, and embrace the uncertainty of life. The process is incredibly fun, and the stories and memories we make together in the end are always beautiful. Just like the joy of creating Zentangle art and seeing the beautiful outcome!

Mosaic Name: yunji

Instagram: @yunji.yutopie